Your Guide to the 2019 Calgary Stampede Parade

The Calgary Stampede was founded in 1912 and has been going strong ever since. Each year, the festivities are kicked off with the Stampede Parade, taking place on July 5 from 9-11am this year right in downtown Calgary. Starting in front of the Calgary Tower, the parade will run through downtown and end near Fort Calgary. Office workers, families, downtown inhabitants and people from the outskirts flood to downtown each year to watch the floats, entertainers and local businesses walk the streets in the name of the Calgary Stampede.

This year, the Parade Marshall is none other than Amber Marshall. Amber is one of the stars of the long-running Calgary based TV show, Heartland. Her love of horses and western lifestyle spills from Heartland into her real life. “Amber represents and promotes Western heritage and values both on and off the screen. She is a role model to many young viewers, and I believe she portrays a very positive message,” says Dana Peers, the President and Chairman of the Board for the Calgary Stampede.

This year will also have an honorary Parade Marshall to pay homage to the 1919 Victory Stampede, Division Brigadier-General Stephen Lacroix. In 1919, Brigadier General H.F. McDonald, who commanded Military District 13 at Camp Sarcee, helped launch the Victory Stampede and formally opened the 1919 Exhibition. To honour the soldiers who fought in World War I, Lacroix will be escorted by two officers from the Lord Strathcona Mounted Troop.

To see exactly when the parade will be passing by your seats, check out the parade map here. Between 9-10am, the festivities will be travelling down 9 Avenue. Wait an hour and the floats will be heading down 6 Avenue between 10-11: 30 am. To secure the best view of the parade, grab a parade package this year. For just $135 for adults or $95 for the youth pass, you can get access to:

• A parking pass for July 5.
• Roundtrip transportation to and from Stampede Park.
• A reserved bleacher seat.
• The main level rodeo ticket.
• Souvenir program.

If you’re not sure the best way to get down to the parade, consider using public transit, walking or biking. There will be road and parking lot closures starting at 7:30 am and they won’t be reopening until around 2:00 pm. With the influx of people flooding downtown plus the road closures, you’re better off finding other means of transportation.

Now that you have the inside scoop on the Stampede Parade, you should be able to fully enjoy one of the most well-known Stampede traditions with friends and family. Don’t forget to show up early to snag your seats or buy tickets in advance so you’re not stuck behind a bunch of people all vying to catch the action. As their slogan says, it’s the “Greatest Show on Earth” – you definitely don’t want to miss out.